St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-10-08
Walsh County.

1haI IlllliolS Is pfetty well dfled up, and,
in applying business view to the mat
ter the query arose in nay mind whether
the serious drouth they have had would
not be the means of setting pee-
pie thinking Of emigrating. Hard times
usually have that effect. If there are
those who think of bettering themselves
by removing to new country, the aues-
ton naturally arises, "Where shall we
go?''
Now the world is wide and long, but
the area of cheap lands is daily growing
smaller. Emigration to California is the
thing at present, but only the rich can
go there. and they can afford to stay at
home. Kansas and Nebraska have dis
posed of all their desirable lands, if. in
deed, it would be desirable to own land
in cyclOnic country. Dakota alone is
left to the settlers, and the great Red
| river valley, the land of "NO. hard"
the garden spot of the world, has vet
homes for all. The superior advantages
of this country can hardly be stated
upon paper, and need not be stated,
only come and see for yourselves.
You would hardly believe me if [
should tell you even nothing but the
truth. We have a rich soil with absO-
lutely no waste, land easily cultivated.
and climate which for raising wheat
cannot be eQualled. Prices of lands are
so low as to be in the reach of any one
who has grit enough to come and stam-
ina enough to stay.
Just for all instance compare us with
California where wheat lands are worth
from 500 to 5000 per acre. The yield of
wheat is no greater than here, the price,
(barring the corners) very little more.
While here the price of land is from
nearly nothing (when taken from gov-
erllment) to S.. SO and $40 per acre.
Why is this difference in price of landp
Simply because California is older, but
is the time to catch on.
That climate has something to do with
all this is true to certain extent, but
you will find no finer climate in the
world than North Dakota has in sum-
mer, and the difference in the interests
of money invested in the farm will take
lis to California in the winter, the only
desirable time to be there.
So much for the farmer. Now, why
should the business man come here?
First of all, because he can do better;
there is more space here. more elbow
room. Take our city of Grafton as an
example. We are situated in the center
of the Red River valley. on the line of
railway, no town nearer than IS miles
on the west, IL miles on the north. 30
miles on the east, and, except a few
small stations, 10 miles on the south, so
that we have large area to draw trade
from. But the country is fast filling up:
railways being built in every direction.
''NOw or never" should be the watch
word of all those who would be first in
new country Land is going fast, bus
mess chances are working down to
closer figures, and soon there will he no
new counties to settle, it will only be
close up, close up, we must get little
thicker: Our crop this year is very fine,
probably no better crop has ever been
raised here. Wheat in this county will
average very nearly twenty-five bushels
per acre, and that we call a good crop of
fife or hard wheat. 1t must be borne in
mind that we raise none of the soft va
rieties. such as Illinois people are used
to. They would yield. probably, from
five to ten bushels more per acre than
the hard varieties, but they are of no
use in roller mills. /:
We have had a fine growing season
here; there is no end of vegetables of
all kinds, and the largest 1 ever saw.
Potatoes grow very fine, with meats as
white as the flour from No. 1 hard.
my uiO az pISoOli6 o0IillIS lOI % CcllGS
a bushel. No. potato bugs: no chinch
i bugs. Wheat. 60 cents, which gives a
good margin here, our work being done
much cheaper than with you. The
fields being larger, no interest of money
itffehees: just one vast wheat and grass
field; but we are not dependent on
wheat alone. Farmers are paying much
attention to stock, and few years more
will find large herds of fine stock rang
ing our prairies. A good foundation
has been laid by James J. Hill, the
president of our road, who has gratuit-
Ously sent something like 200 head of
blOoded cattle along his, lines of road.
Who ever heard of a railroad president
doing anything of this kind before?
They usually take what they can get
and keep it.; but Mr.. Hill has been an
exception. He has really helped the
farmers. instead of taking everything
they had.
In conclusion, would say come and
see for yourselves; don't take any ones
say so for it, as your ideas may not be
in unison with mine. r. ToMBs. |
|